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A. B. SHEAFFER.

Main Belt for, Carriages. Nol 78.240. Patented May 26. 1868.

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Letters Patent No. 78,240, dated M'ay 26, 1868.

IMPROVED MAIN-BOLT OR GOGSE-NEGK STAY 0N GABRIAGES.

6th: swath numb in in time itttttrs went ma muting urt at flgtstmsi TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: 4 t i i I Be it known that I, ALFRED B. SHEarFnn,-- ot 'Ephrata, in the county of Lancaster, and State of Pennsylvania, have made certain Improvements on the Main-Boltor Goose-Neck Stay on Carriages,in connection with the so-called fifth-wheel; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description-thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making .a. part of this specification, in i vhich- Figure 1 is a perspective viewof the stay. Figure 2, the bolt and socket-nut.

Figure 3 illustratesits application, showing thelellipti c spring, head-block,fifth-wheel, 'and axle, with the clips and stays in place. p p

The nature of-my invention consists inprovidinga pocket or socket under the fifth-wheel and around the main bolt, for the introduction ofgum elastic' to act as a follower, and prevent rattling, said. sockets heing a part/of the main-holt'brace and the nut that holds the bolt.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, it is only necessary to say that the open curve A,'fig. 1, for the passage of the wheel of circular slides I, is deepened, forming a thickened'curve, 13, out of which is cut orforged a'square or oblong socket, a, for the reception of ap'ieee oflndia ruhber or gum-elastic, G, .whieh more than fills the socket. An iron or steel plate, P, is made toifit,andjlaidover'the gum-within the socket. The Wheel I, be it single or double, fills the space in thc usual mannonfpressing upon the plate and gum which it covers. The action of the gum is such' as to prevent rattlingior becoming loose b'y wear.

'lho bolt, fig. 2, (that holds the forward end, c,cf the goose-neck or. mainstay and wheel-guide,) has a nut, with a prolongation, L, a part of the nut N, provided with a widened socket for a ring of gu'melastic, M, over which a washer, W, is also inserted, so as to prevent rattling and keep the parts in close connection, as friction, in time, loosens the same. J

Iam aware-that iron rings are used as washers with a ring of gum-elastic; but I an: not aware that a screwburr or nut, with a socket, was ever before'known or used. p

I am also awa e that patent, (30,634, December 18, 1866, claims a safety clip, between which the fifth-wheel plays in the recesses, having a yielding pressure. This is an independent thing, and is secured in a special manner, and forms no part of the main-bolt stay. I do not claim a safety-clip attached separately. My

socket-opening is a part of and forged'with the main-bolt or goose-neck stay, as is the socket in the nut a part of'the same, and not an extra piece.

What I claim as my in-v-ention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, The socket a, in the enlarged curve B of the main-bolt stay A, when made substa'ntiallyin the manner and for the purpose specified.

ALFRED B. SHEAFFER.

Wjtnessesi WALK. Sentrzna, MARY SELTZER.- 

